Biomaterial for articular cartilage maintenance and treatment of arthritis

Abstract

The present disclosure provides biomaterials and methods for preventing and minimizing progression of cartilage and/or connective tissue damage. Also provided herein are biomaterials and methods for alleviating and/or reducing the risk for developing arthritis (e.g., osteoarthritis) associated with joint injury and/or joint surgery.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for treating arthritis, comprising: forming a liquid composition by mixing together a collagen material, a calcium solution having a calcium concentration of about 30 mM to about 90 mM, and a red blood cell, wherein the collagen material is a dry powder, and wherein the composition comprises glycosaminoglycan (GAG) in an amount of less than 5% of the total dry weight of the composition and comprises a ratio of calcium to collagen of from 0.005:1 to 10:1 by weight; and
 administering an effective amount of the composition by direct injection to a knee joint of a subject that has or is at risk for developing arthritis at the joint, wherein surgery has not been performed on the joint, and wherein surgery is not concurrently being performed on the joint. 
 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , wherein the collagen material has a pH of 7.4 to 7.5. 
     
     
       3. A method for treating arthritis, comprising: forming a composition by mixing together a collagen material, a calcium solution having a calcium concentration of about 30 mM to about 90 mM, and a red blood cell, wherein the collagen material is a dry powder, wherein the mixing comprises adding 1-5 mg CaCl 2 ) per 40 mg of the collagen to the composition, and wherein the composition comprises GAG in an amount of less than 10% of the total dry weight of the composition; and
 administering an effective amount of the composition by direct injection to a knee joint of a subject that has or is at risk for developing arthritis at the joint, wherein surgery has not been performed on the joint, and wherein surgery is not concurrently being performed on the joint. 
 
     
     
       4. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the arthritis is osteoarthritis. 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subject has a partial cartilage injury. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the subject has early osteoarthritis. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the collagen material is a lyophilized collagen material. 
     
     
       8. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is a slurry. 
     
     
       9. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition is a gel. 
     
     
       10. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the collagen material comprises:
 a phospholipid in an amount less than 125 μM/mg; 
 a nucleic acid in an amount less than 100 μg/g; and 
 an active pepsin in an amount less than 10,000 μg/ml. 
 
     
     
       11. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition comprises GAG in an amount of less than 5% of the total dry weight of the composition. 
     
     
       12. The method of  claim 3 , wherein the composition consists essentially of the collagen material, the red blood cell, the calcium solution, the GAG, and water. 
     
     
       13. A method for treating arthritis, comprising: forming a liquid composition by mixing together a collagen material, a calcium solution having a calcium concentration of about 30 mM to about 90 mM, and a red blood cell, the composition comprising GAG in an amount of less than 10% of the total dry weight of the composition, the composition comprising a ratio of calcium to collagen of from 0.005:1 to 10:1 by weight, wherein the collagen material is a dry powder, and wherein the collagen material comprises:
 a phospholipid in an amount less than 125 μM/mg; 
 a nucleic acid in an amount less than 100 μg/g; and 
 an active pepsin in an amount less than 10,000 μg/ml; and 
 administering an effective amount of the composition by direct injection to a knee joint of a subject that has or is at risk for developing arthritis at the joint, wherein surgery has not been performed on the joint, and wherein surgery is not concurrently being performed on the joint.